Chicago Documenters

Annual Report 2025 — City Bureau 2025 was a year of urgent challenges and undeniable impact—we equipped communities to take action, deepened connections, and strengthened civic infrastructure nationwide. Dive into our 2025 Yearbook &...

2025 was a pivotal and defining year for City Bureau! We responded to urgent challenges, equipped communities for action, and made an undeniable impact.

Our Yearbook & Annual Report shares the stories, milestones, & momentum informing our next chapter!
https://www.citybureau.org/annual-report-2025

🤔 This week, in the #Newswire: Your 2026 Primary Election Cheat Sheet. Plus, checking your judges⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

🧐This week in the #Newswire: Revisiting restorative justice courts. Plus, their history and impact in Chicago⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

Good afternoon Chicago! Today I'll be documenting Chicago City Council's February Meeting of the Committee on Housing & Real Estate for
@chidocumenters.bsky.social
#CHIdocumenters

🤝We're documenting Cook County courts; here's why. Plus, the rise in pre-trial detention rates ⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

🤔 We're answering the ✨Questions That Need Answers✨ in the #Newswire: What is a TIF sweep? Plus, some history on a complex tax tool ⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

✨️ Save the date for these upcoming @chidocumenters.bsky.social workshops! We'll see you soon for these opportunities to get involved in local government 👇
citybureau.org/events
www.citybureau.org/events

🧐 This week, in the #Newswire: SNAP benefits are changing — here's what to know. Plus, food access resources ⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

🤔Straight out of this week's #Newswire: Chicago balks at buying back its parking meters. Plus, a look at the original disastrous deal⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

🧐 From our first #Newswire of 2026: What’s an executive order? Plus, a property tax increase for libraries ⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

How To Take Audio: Chicago Documenters Workshop — City Bureau How to take audio for Chicago Documenters will equip Documenters to record audio at public meetings. At the completion of the training, Documenters will receive the Audio Badge and be eligible to take...

Join us for Chicago Documenters workshop on how to take audio at public meetings!

RSVP and meet us at City Bureau in Bronzeville. https://www.citybureau.org/events/how-to-take-audio-for-chicago-documenters-january

Covering Your Local Government: Chicago Documenters Workshop — City Bureau Documenters can expect mock documenting assignments, short writing exercises, and community building activities so make sure to bring a notebook and a laptop or phone!

🗣️ TOMORROW || Join us for a Chicago Documenters Workshop on Covering Your Local Government on January 7.

Documenters can expect mock documenting assignments, short writing exercises, and community building activities
https://www.citybureau.org/events/covering-your-local-government-january

🤔 From our final #Newswire of 2025:🤑Will Chicago have a budget by Christmas? Plus, Alders pass revenue plan, defying Johnson⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

Columbus and Kansas City Join the Documenters Network — City Bureau Two new communities are bringing fresh energy to our people-powered journalism movement. Meet the local partners and civic collaborators shaping the next chapter of Documenters.

🎉 Welcome Columbus #SignalOhio and Kansas City (@thebeacon.bsky.social) to our #DocumentersNetwork!
They are bringing fresh energy to our people-powered journalism movement. Meet the local partners & civic collaborators shaping the next chapter of Documenters. www.citybureau.org/notebook/col...

How Chicagoans Can Get Help and Help Others During ICE Raids — City Bureau Local community groups are providing hotlines, trainings, legal support, community canvassing and other resources to keep people informed.

With immigration raids targeting multiple parts of the city and suburbs, here are tips from local community groups on what to do.
https://www.citybureau.org/newswire/2025/9/5/ice-raids-chicago-how-to-get-help

How to Choose a Water Filter to Protect Against Lead — City Bureau Neighbors at our Public Newsroom about Chicago’s lead pipes problem wanted to know more about finding the best water filter for their homes. You asked; we answered.

Chicagoans risk daily lead exposure. Here’s how to choose a water filter!

Our latest guide breaks it down. https://www.citybureau.org/newswire/2025/12/9/chicago-how-to-choose-a-water-filter-for-lead

Rebuilding Intergenerational Care in Chicago’s Black Queer Communities — City Bureau Artist Zahra Baker came up in “a system of care” before the HIV/AIDS epidemic decimated communities. With health crises and cultural shifts disproportionately affecting Black, queer Chicagoans, Baker ...

Artist Zahra Baker came up in “a system of care” before the HIV/AIDS epidemic decimated communities. Baker says forming lasting relationships is crucial now more than ever. https://www.citybureau.org/newswire/2025/12/4/zahra-baker-chicago-black-queer-community-care

🧐This week in the #Newswire: What could a City Hall shutdown mean for Chicago? 🤑Plus, unpacking the garbage collection fee⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

Live-coverage of today's Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development for @chidocumenters.bsky.social @citybureau.bsky.social #Chidocumenters #citybureau via x: x.com/aidank_/stat...

Chicago Documenters Workshop: What makes a good quote? — City Bureau Whether you are an experienced documenter or someone who is looking to hone their knowledge base this workshop will sharpen your ear, strengthen your note taking, and boost public transparency.

TONIGHT || Calling all @chidocumenters.bsky.social! Join us for a special workshop on "What Makes a Good Quote?" Come sharpen your ear, strengthen your note taking, and help boost public transparency.
https://www.citybureau.org/events/chicago-documenters-training-quotes

Live Coverage of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago from their Board of Commissioners Meeting at 10:30 am and their Public Hearing Meeting at 2:00 pm with @chidocumenters.bsky.social

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Chicago Documenters Orientation -- City Bureau This 2 hour training will introduce you to the Chicago Documenters community, starting with a walk-through of Documenters.org and our assignment workflow. You'll practice core skills relevant to a range of assignments, learn about public meetings law, a...

TONIGHT || Join @chidocumenters.bsky.social for a workshop! This 2 hour session will introduce you to the Chicago Documenters community and our assignment workflow. Get paid & trained to help keep our gov officials accountable. https://www.citybureau.org/events/documenting-chicago-city-budget-r5st3

Chicago Transit Authority - [in person or remote] Chicago Transit Authority: Committee Meetings and Regular Board Meeting 11/12/2025 [in person or remote] Chicago Transit Authority: Committee Meetings and Regular Board Meeting Documenter name: Leslie Williamson Fact-checker name: Kerry Snider Agency: Chicago Transit Authority Date:...

In a Nov. 12 @chicagocta.bsky.social board meeting, officials celebrated the passage of a $1.5 billion funding bill that rescued Chicago's public transit agencies from a fiscal cliff and prevented service cuts and layoffs. Read more in #ChiDocumenters notes: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

😎 We're back with the #Newswire: What’s the status of the budget? Plus, a #ChiBudgetSzn🤑Breakdown ⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

Chicago Documenters Training: What makes a good quote? — City Bureau Whether you are an experienced documenter or someone who is looking to sharpen build their knowledge base this workshop will sharpen your ear, strengthen your note taking, and boost public transparenc...

Join @chidocumenters.bsky.social for a workshop!

Learn how to:
✅ Spot the quotes that bring a meeting to life
✅ Know when to quote directly vs. summarize
✅ Practice turning real meeting moments into clear, trustworthy notes
https://www.citybureau.org/events/chicago-documenters-training-quotes

A Recap From Our 2025 Documenters Summit — City Bureau 3 things we learned by gathering 20 partners from across the country

Just last month in Chicago, City Bureau welcomed over 40 staff members representing more than 20 communities across the country for our third #DocumentersNetwork Summit. Here's 3 things we learned by gathering! https://www.citybureau.org/notebook/2025/11/18/a-recap-from-our-2025-documenters-summit

Chicago City Council - [remote or in person, 9:30am - 1:30pm] MORNING 2026 Chicago Budget Hearing: Public Safety Day 1 11/05/2025 [remote or in person, 9:30am - 1:30pm] MORNING 2026 Chicago Budget Hearing: Public Safety Day 1 Documenter name: Daniela Jaime Fact-checker name: Mare Ralph Agency: Chicago City Council Date: Nov. 5, ...

In budget talks on Nov. 5, alders asked if police can detain ICE agents and got info on CPD's use of drones and horses. Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25) grilled CPD reps on vacancies and overtime spending. Read more from #ChiDocumenters: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Good morning Bluesky!

My name is Kenji Granberry and today I'm covering the @rtachicago.bsky.social Board of Directors meeting for @chidocumenters.bsky.social.

🤔This week in the #Newswire: Chicago alders vote against corporate head tax🤑 Plus, CTA: Saved from the brink⬇️
www.citybureau.org/newswire/202...

Hello all! I will live-tweet this morning’s Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability meeting for District 2 for @chidocumenters.bsky.social #CHIdocumenters